Public hearing on water-sewer rates next month in Rochester

Wednesday

Oct 17, 2012 at 3:15 AMOct 17, 2012 at 5:55 AM

By Liz Markhlevskayalmark@fosters.com

ROCHESTER — The City Council is preparing to hold a public hearing on proposed increases to the water and sewer rates.Next month, the council will conduct a first reading of the resolution that would raise the water rate by 11 cents per 100 cubic feet of water, and the sewer rate by 14 cents per 100 cubic feet of water.The proposal to increase the rates came to the City Council through the Utility Advisory Board in July, in light of multimillion dollar costs anticipated with Rochester having to upgrade its wastewater treatment facility years down the road.EPA is expected to soon issue a permit that would drastically limit the amount of nitrogen that would be allowed to be discharged from the plant. With the 3 milligram per liter permit limit that city officials anticipate will be issued, just the capital costs for upgrading the plant will likely cost approximately $20 million.If the City Council approves the proposed increases to the water and sewer rates, the average combined water and sewer bill will increase by $7.Councilor Ray Varney said that if the city does not raise the water and sewer rates now Rochester will see a deficit in the next year or two.“We really do need to stay ahead of this,” said Mayor T.J. Jean.City Manager Daniel Fitzpatrick noted that if a stringent nitrogen permit limit does come to light, the multimillion dollar upgrades will not be required to be implemented right away. Rather, the city will have several years to comply with the new permit.After the council conducts the first reading of the proposed resolution next month, it will schedule a public hearing on the proposed new water and sewer rates.Jean said he hopes the City Council can vote to approve the new rates by December.